Snow scoop



April 4, 1956 R. J. RABIDEAUY 2,742,719

SNOW SCOOP Filed May 2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

F; J. RABIDEAU WKW AGENT April 24, 1956 R. J. RABIDEAU 2,742,719

snow 5000? Filed May 2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIIII E INVENTOR.

R. d. RABIDEAU MKW AGENT April 1956 R. J. RABIDEAU 2,742,719

Snow 5000? Filed Ma 2 1952 a Sheets-Sheet a FIG. 9

INVENTOR.

lg. J. RABIDEAU AGENT United States Patent 2,742,719 sNow scoor Raymond J. Rabideau, Cloquet, Minn.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial N0. 285,779

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-123) This invention relates to a snow remover and has special reference to a scoop-like device for manual manipulation into :snow for picking up a quantity of snow for transportation to a remote point for dumping.

It is quite a task to remove snow from sidewalks, driveways and the like in the areas where a great deal of snow falls and accumulates during the winter months. The common method of removing snow is using a shovel. However, this method is rather strenuous when any great length or depth of snow is to be cleared away, and most people are not equal to the task of snow removal for they are usually not in condition to do this work.

It is .my principal object to provide a snow scoop which will greatly reduce the strenuous exertion which is now necessary to clear a given amount of snow.

Another, more specific, object 'is to provide a snow scoop of simple and sturdy construction which will be efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a snow scoop with a completely retractable bottom whereby snow may be removed from the scoop without the necessity of lifting and dumping the device and its load.

Another object is to provide simple means for automatically retracting the bottom when desired.

Another objecti's toprovide such 'a'snow scoop device which may be made in miniature form for use as a toy or as an ash tray or the like.

' These and other objectsand advantages of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one vention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmenta-l perspective view illustrating the hinge construction of the retractable bottom.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a small portion of the retractable bottom to illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view showing the reenforcing bar and the bottom relationship.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view illustrating the roller mounting for the movable mounting.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken elevational view showing the roller for retracting the bottom.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of Fig. 4.

In the drawing, the reference numerals 1--1 indicate the side wallsof my scoop which are'preferably normally vertically disposed and made of sheet material, such as metal. The numeral 2 indicates the rear wall of the device which is joined with the side walls and of course, rigidifies the construction.

- On the lower edge of each of the side walls 1--1, I

form of my in- ICC have mounted a ski or skid 3 to act as runners to support the device during normal operation and to facilitate its movement through and over snow. The forward and rear ends of the skis or runners are turned up, as shown, tofaci'litate the operation of the device.

Adjacent the forward ends of the side walls and at about the point where the skis begin to turn up, I have provided a blade member or bar 4, which is rigidly secured in place to hold the device in rigid assembled relation. The bar or blade 4 is secured to the side walls '1--l'and/or to the skis, as desired. The bar or blade 4 is positioned as close to the bottom of the skis as possible, of course, for this forms the leading edge for the retractable bottom 5, the blade 4 preferably being wedge shaped, as shown whereby its leading edge will cut into the snow readily and whereby the snow may be removed as closely as possible to the ground.

A handle 6 is mounted on the rear Wall 2, as by rivets, bolts, welding or the like to provide convenient means for manipulating the device. The handle is placed at a suitablelevel relative to the scoop whereby one need not bend over to push the device into the snow and whereby one can exert any required motive eifort to the device in a most efficient manner.

As is deemed readily apparent, one can push the device into a snow pile and the blade 4 will cut into same and 'divide the pile whereby the snow above the blade will readily slide rearwardly onto the bottom 5 Where it will collect until the accumulation substantially fills theTscoop formed between the walls 1-1 and 2 and the bottom of the device, or at least until the snow is stopped against the rear wall 2.

When the scoop is full, it may be pulled rearwardly out-of .the snow .pile and the snow will remain in the scoop. Then the scoop may be pulled or pushed easily to a convenient dumping spot.

To facilitate dumping of the load, and to eliminate the tremendous elfort which would be required to turn the scoop device over to dump the load, I have provided the folding or retractable bottom 5. The bottom comprises a plurality of similar narrow strips 7-7 each having both longitudinal edges roll-ed as shown forming an eye 8, and cut away as at 9, to form a plurality of a lined cylindrical opening it) through which the elongated hinge pin 11 may extend. The adjacent edges of the 1 adjacent strips 7 are oppositely cutout, as shown, whereby the rolled eyes 8 of the adjacent strips fit into the cut out portions 9 of adjacent strips. Because the strips 7 are similar they are interchangeable of course, and when uni-ted by .the pins 11, they form a bottom for the scoop which is flexible. I The bottom is carried between the walls 1-1 by means of a'channel or track 12 which has longitudinal opening 13 therethrough and a slot 14 along the outer edge thereof, the track being fixed to the side walls along the lower edges thereof, as shown, the full length of the side walls and upwardly along the rear edge of the back wall 2, whereby a continuous track is formed.

The strips are supported on the track either by a separate shaft 15 or by the pins 11 in a similar manner. In

the case of the shaft 15, the latter has a head 16 on the inside of the channel 13 which is wider than the slot'14. A roller or hearing 17 is carried on the shaft adjacent the head 16 and the shaft is secured to the strip close to the bearing whereby the head keeps the shaft and strips in alined relation with the scoop and the roller permits the ready reciprocation of the bottom in the track. The shafts 15 and the parts they carry may be spaced as desired along each edge of the bottom 5.

In the case of the strips being carried by the pins 11, a head would be provided oneach end of the pin and a roller adjacent each head.

As means to automatically retract the bottom 5, I have provided a roller 24, which is loaded by the spring 18 tending to wind the bottom rearwardly. Web strips 19 or the like are secured to the rear edges of the bottom and the roller, which is carried on the upper end of the rear wall 2, as shown, to connect the roller and bottom for desired operation. A spring catch 20 is provided to hold the bottom in place or in its outward or operating position. When the catch 20 is released, the bottom is pulled rearwardly and upwardly along the rear wall 2 to open the bottom of the scoop and snow is removed therefrom by being dropped through the open bottom.

The empty scoop may easily be tipped upwardly then so that one may use his toe or foot against the lug 21 to pull the bottom back to normal position for use when the spring catch 20 will hold same in place until it is again desired to move the bottom by releasing the catch 20.

Thus, it may be seen that little manual effort is required to remove snow with my device.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a miniature of my device mounted over a receptacle 22 and having trough members 2323 mounted on the side walls 1-1 to act as an ash tray. The bottom 5 is of flexible construction whereby it may be retracted to empty ashe's into the receptacle when desired and to form a closure for the receptacle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l, A snow scoop comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall joining said side Walls along the rear edges thereof. a bottom carried along the lower edges of said side walls from the forward end thereof to the rear end thereof, a reenforcing bar fixed between said sidewalls at the forward end thereof in front of and in alinement with said bottom to form a leading edge for said bottom and to rigidify the structure whereby no front wall is employed in same, said bottom being made up of a plurality of strips hingedly united to each other whereby said bottom may be bent around a corner, means supporting said bottom to permit its being retracted rearwardly and upwardly along said back wall, said means comprising a track extending along the lower and rear edges of each of said walls and along the associated portion of said back wall, a plurality of shafts carried by some of said strips one on each end thereof, a head on each of said shafts, said track including a confined channel to receive said heads to maintain said bottom in alinement for movement along said track from a position enclosing the bottom of said scoop to a position adjacent and'substantially alined with said rear wall to cause a load carried intermediate said side walls to be discharged therefrom.

2. A snow scoop comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall joining said side walls along the rear edges thereof, a bottom carried along the lower edges of said side walls from the forward end thereof to the rear end thereof, a reenforcing bar fixed between said sidewalls at the forward end thereof in front of and in alinement with said bottom to form a leading edge for said bottom and to rigidify the structure whereby no front wall is employed in same, said bottom being made up of a plurality of strips hingedly united to each other whereby said bottom may be bent around a corner, means supporting said bottom to permit its being retracted reanvardly and upwardly along said back wall, said means comprising a track extending along the lower and rear edges of each of said walls and along the associated portion of said back wall, a plurality of shafts carried by some of said strips one on each end thereof, a head on each of said shafts, said track including a confined channel to receive said heads to maintain said bottom in alinement for operation, and a roller carried between said head and said strip to ride on said track to facilitate rctraction of said bottom.

3. A snow scoop comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a back wall joining said side walls along the rear edges thereof, a bottom carried along the lower edges of said side walls from the forward end thereof to the rear end thereof, a reenforcing bar fixed between said side walls at the forward end thereof in front of and in alinement with said bottom to form a leading edge for said bottom and to rigidify the structure whereby no front wall is employed in same, said bottom being made up of a plurality of strips hingedly united to each other whereby said bottom may be bent around a corner, means supporting said bottom to permit its being retracted rearwardly and upwardly along said back wall, said means comprising a roller carried adjacent to the upper end of said rear wall, bands connecting said bottom with said roller, said bands being wound around said roller, spring means connected with said roller for rotating said roller to wind said bands on said roller and thereby retract said bottom, and catch means on said bottom to maintain said bottom in normal extended position, said catch means being releasable to permit said spring means to wind said bands on said roller to retract said bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,094 Fowler Oct. 27, 1891 885,049 Holcomb Apr. 21, 1908 2,112,698 Hull Mar. 29, 1938 2,179,532 Walch Nov. 14, 1939 2,190,558 Cote Feb. 13, 1940 2,257,103 Brokering Sept. 30, 1941 2,507,690 Burns May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 276,069 Switzerland Sept. 17, 1951 536,043 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1941 

